SFI management is responsible for creating the enabling environment for us to effectively function as business people in a professional and enduring manner. All the structure, platform, training, e-commerce etc are designed, programmed and continuously refined by SFI management, in order to ensure that the ‘fluidity’ with which we carry out our businesses is devoid of encumbrances.
It is therefore pertinent and appropriate for us to depend, in this regard, on SFI management to ensure the success of our business, including the strategies we employ to make SFI more attractive to new affiliates. This also infers that we may need to be creative and adapt our business ingenuity to the SFI model and abide by all rules relating to how we carry out our SFI business, so there is no way we cannot depend on SFI management, one way or the other.
Having said that, new affiliates need to be guided, supported and assisted selflessly, in a timely and consistent manner, in order to make their sojourn here more attractive because this will enhance their interest and ability to make the decision to stay here, work their businesses here and be successful here.
In light of these, below are my suggestions but kindly bear with me because of the lengthy nature:
1. They say first impression matters, so your first point of contact with them, like your welcome letter should emphasise your role as a sponsor who is willing and ready to assist them to achieve their aim of joining SFI, which is to make money. Tell them you are here to make them succeed because you are only successful if they are also successful and do not hesitate to immediately provide answers to their queries and anxieties.
2. Lead by example and ensure you are doing what you want them to do otherwise your efforts to make SFI more attractive to them may be ineffective, because they may lack trust and confidence in you, and resist your overtures.
3. Endeavour to forward a clear and unambiguous understanding of the SFI business model and a very simplified version of a step-by-step approach that will get them off to a good start. This has the potential of reducing the fog of understanding and the overwhelming conditions often experienced by new affiliates.
4. Instead of just emphasising spending money like setting up standing orders or purchasing products from TC etc, highlight their benefits and necessity, with robust alternatives like sales and team building etc, and as a consequence, you will leave them with effective information to be able to make their decisions, instead of you making it for them, especially where you are not requested to.
5. Do not treat them like kids or your workers, but as business partners that require you to treat them with dignity and respect as equals, so be polite, professional and humble in our dealings with them. This is because your approach as a sponsor has a major role to play in how some of your affiliates see SFI and whether they are attracted to it or not may depend, at times, on how you treat them
6. Attract them more by letting them know that they are not in competition with anyone and that there is no defined ‘floors’ and ‘ceilings’, so they are at liberty to go easy and take it in their strides, according to their ability and learning curve, but that you are always available to lend a hand where they need one. This is important because some affiliates misconstrue the essence of the E365 competition and get discouraged when they are knocked out of it, including their perceived ‘intimidation’ and nervousness when they see the success of some other affiliated and begin to imagine how they can measure up or how they can survive the ‘competition’
7. Always commend and praise them for any effort they make in order to motivate them to do more. You may recognise their efforts with gifts and also encourage those who lag behind with helpful and professional support, instead of intimidating or scolding them. Apart from your regular massages, stream posts and leadership page content, another effective medium to use in recognising and praising their efforts is the e-cards.
8. Inform them as soon as possible of all the various ways to earn money here which is really why they joined, so that they can quickly adapt to those that suit them more and probably others for later.
9. You can increase attraction by introducing them to EZ games where they can pass time and relax, including other ways to get some 'free' stuff like the Daily Grand, EZ games, E365 etc.
10. You may also help to improve their interactions with other affiliates in order to provide an alternative source of inspiration, motivation and solutions to problems they may be facing as new affiliates, like the forum, a2a and the SFIMG (online chat). Encourage and help them to the My Country/Region forum and a2a friendship with affiliates from their region/country.
11. Immediately eradicate some misconceptions associated with payment methods at TC as soon as they begin to manifest because many affiliates are not attracted to this business as a result of lack of credit card and shipment costs for example. Introduce them to other payment methods including Tcurrency and Local Pay ECAs for local purchasing/will-call-option.
12. Show them proof of successful affiliates, especially from their countries/regions, using testimonials, forum posts and Leader Boards lists where appropriate.
13. Online and offline interactions, both for social and business reasons are good strategies to build personal/business relationships with your affiliates where possible, so organising webinars, local physical meetings and other social/business activities improves the bond between you and them. Bonding is an effective tool to making your affiliates develop ‘likeness’, fondness and trust in you, which are part of what can make SFI more attractive to them.
To wrap it up, please note that your efforts may sometime not pay off because as far as this business is concerned, it is not suitable for everybody, so at the end, SFI will remain unattractive to some but you should summon courage and draw the line at some point, by choosing to work with the workers, but not without first, deploying your potential and ability on trying, as much as you can.
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